39
for all age group$"r relatively low fgure compared with thatder Japanese and American
societies.
age 54) died of a genitourinary infection complicating diabetes even thoughshe(along with the
other cases) had been placed on oral therapy with
Orinase (tolbutamid tablets). (It was later found
Thyroid Metabolism
that these patients did not take the tablets con-
Table 24 shows results of protein bound iodine,
sistently. }
minations. The 12 samples obtained in 1959
showed values definitely lower than the 1958
values, although several readings were still somewhat high. [t was thought that the high 1958
levels must have been due to contaminatedglassware in spite of the great care taken to maintain
only routine urine examinations were done on the
Rongelap people, the incidenceof diabetes may
actually be higher. The greater incidence of deaths
due to diabetes in the Marshall Islands than in the
strict cleanliness.
Glucosuria
United States in 1956 and 1957" is statistically
On routine urine analysis during the 1959 survey one male and four females (al! in che unex-
significant (0.0L>p>0.001).
Serum Vitamin B,,
ucosuria; all
but one of these also had an elevated fasting blood
sugar level* (see Table 25). These individuals
were considered to have mild diabetes mellitus.
Later during the year one of these cases ( 3854, F,
Analysis of the [3 serum samples obtained in
1959 again showed, as in 1958, vitamin B,, levels
slightly higher than normal. The mean value was
714 pug/ml, with a range of 312 to 1500. A scatt€r-
gram of levels for both years was plotted against
~o
Te
Maw
posed group) were found to have
|
Table 26 compares the mortality from diabetes
in the United States*’ and the Marshal! Islands.
The incidence appears higher in the Marshall
Islands and on Rongelap Island (based on its
small population). It should be noted that, since
total iqdine, and butanol extractable iodine deter-
white blood count, since it has been shownthat in
“We are grateful to Dr. W.W. Fennel! at Kwajalein for having
leukemia the white cells have a higher B,, binding
the blood sugar analyzed.
Table 23
Results of Complement Fixation Tests on Rongelap Peopie, 1959, by Age and Sex
{Positive Reactions of Serum Dilutions 1-10)
avs
:
No.in FluA
FluB
age
group No.
% No.
%
Long
HA |
HA 2
CA
(Respiratory
(Parainfluenza3) (Parainfluenza!) (Parainfluenza 2) syncitial, CCA)
No.
%
No.
To
No.
Adeno
%
No.
%
No.
1
l
4
5
6
[4
6
35
38
30
14
16
10
82
67
50
2
3
26
43
40
66
2
l
1d
6
4
6
5
33
29
29
ll
Il
9
3
6
15
29
4
+1
37
LGV
(Psittacosis
OF
Mumps
group)
(Q fever)
% No.
%
No.
%
No. %
2
6
12
25
1
3
I
6
13
5
2
2
I
12
&
5
8
13
5
8
3
68
92
§2
53
3
5
14
2&9
!
1
3
8
5
18
1
8
32:
«63
«Bl
O16
265 Cat
72
64 16
i+
Females
1-5
6-15
16-40
>40
0
17
24
20
4
4+
17
20
9
7
38
35
B
19
16
47
79
80
Total
61
8B
13
16
26
43
70
I-51
0
Males
6-15
16-40
> 40
12
21
17
1
+
6
Total
Sl
it
8
19
35
2
8
12
17
38
71
by
18
14
92
. 86
82
22 22
43
43
84
*
aw
0
1 100
Females Plus Males
Total
112
19
17
38
34
1185584
86
77
0
5
10
9
ob
5